Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar: 2015-07-19

The Story Behind this Blog

Being from the South, Silver is a very big part of my life. It doesn't have anything to do with wealth. Although those with more money - old money, tend to have more of it. New money tend not to spend their money on Silver. They do not have the appreciation for the warmth of the metal, the beauty of the patina, the story it tells of the generations past who have used it. A true southern girl comes of age when she chooses her silver pattern, long before she chooses her mate. If she is smart, she chooses that of her mother, grandmother, or favorite great aunt who in their benevolence will pass their silver on to her. It is the pieces in those sets, the pieces on our tables, along with the pieces we find in the corners of the displays in antique stores that prompted me to start this blog. They are beautiful, they are odd, but what are they, and what in the hell do you do with them?

Friday, July 24, 2015

Queens by CJ Vander

There are several Queens patterns including Queens by Wallace, Queens by Gorham (1870), and Queens by Birks. This is Queens by CJ Vander. This is a beautiful pattern with a scallop shell design on the tip of the terminal.

Fork (8 3/8 inches)

Sugar Shell (5 1/2 inches)

Knife (10 1/4 inches)

Gadroon by Birks

Birks introduced their Gadroon pattern in 1914. It is a pattern with a strong design yet curvy lines.

Bouillion Sppon (5 inches)

Butter Spreader (6 5/8 inches)

Small Cold Meat Serving Fork (7 1/4 inches)

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Louis XV by Birks

I posted on various Louis XV patterns earlier but this is another Louis XV pattern I stumbled across by Birks dated back to 1914.

Luncheon Fork (6 7/8 inches)